High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS): 

HIPS is a low-cost, rigid and versatile polymer material that

is often used in applications such as cookie and candy trays, deli containers and food service
items. It is food safe, has good opacity, can withstand heavy impact, is recyclable, and its
moisture barrier makes it ideal for short shelf life products. Despite being strong, HIPS is
recognized for its formability. It can be molded to fit your candy or confectionery products,
greatly enhancing presentation aesthetics while protecting your boxes of chocolates and truffles.

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Aluminum and Tinplate for Food-Safe Packaging of Chocolates, Biscuits and Confectionery
by Alex Cosper
March 15, 2017

Two of the most favored materials for the packaging of chocolates, biscuits
and confectionery are aluminum and tinplate. These materials are efficient
and safe forms of packaging that meet international safety standards.
 Some of these factors deal with food contact substance and other issues
related to safe food consumption for the masses. Here's a closer examination
on why tinplate and aluminum are commonly used in food packaging.

Food Contact Substance (FCS)

The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) of 1938 defines food contact
substance as: any substance intended for use as a component of materials
for manufacturing, packing, packaging, transporting or holding food if use of
this substance isn't meant for any technical effect in the food. The purpose
of these guidelines is to prevent fatal chemical poisoning. The FD&C has
been updated several times since its introduction, as new discoveries are
continuously made about food safety. Here are further details on what
defines FCS:

 a singular substance such as a polymer containing an antioxidant

 what a chemist defines as a pure polymer substance
 well defined composition containing multiple monomers to produce a
polymer

Additionally, food contact material (FCM) produced with an FCS and other
substances is a mix of various substances that may include polymers
containing an antioxidant. A food contact article (FCA) such as a dough hook,
film, tray, bottle or other processing tools is the final item that may come in
contact with the food formed from the FCM.

GRAS Definition
Under sections 201(s) and 409 of the FD&C, GRAS is defined as "Generally
Recognized As Safe." It applies to any substance subject to premarket review
and FDA approval intentionally added to food that qualified industry experts
consider to be safe due to adequate testing for intended use.

Certain food additives may be covered under GRAS if the substances are
considered to be safe by the scientific community and the public has access
to this information, but are typically held to a different standard. On the
other hand, if the substance is not defined as a food additive with
information about it available to consumers, it may not be covered by GRAS.

Tin Packaging Safety

 Food vendors began using tinplate
for food containers over two centuries ago. In the beginning, however, it
often caused food poisoning due to people ingesting significant amounts of
metal particles. Physicians began recommending that tinplate be avoided.
Over time, however, scientists found ways to improve tinplate to make if safe
for using as a food container. Packaging for acidic foods, which degrade tin,
now use enamel coating over tinplate containers.

While some metallic elements such as copper or iron are necessary in human
diets, tin does not have any dietary value to humans. Medical experts,
however, have determined that trace amounts of tin do not pose long-term
health risks to humans.
Aluminum Packaging Safety
Like tin, aluminum is nonessential to human consumption but is not
dangerous in its modified form for commercial packaging when it comes into
contact with food. In its pure form, however, aluminum can pose risks due to
corrosion. In order to make pure aluminum safe, it is mixed with copper, zinc,
iron, chromium or manganese. Just as with tin used for food packaging,
enamel coating is added to aluminum as a safety measure.

Other Tin and Aluminum Considerations

Both tin and aluminum originate from nature and can be found in the earth's
crust. Aluminum is the third most abundant element existing in the earth's
crust, but also can be found in natural unprocessed foods such as eggs,
cucumbers, cabbage, apples and corn. Metals mixed together to form alloys
produce stronger long-lasting metals, such as the aluminum used for food
packaging. Labels must alert consumers when packaging contains uncoated
aluminum.

Tin, while commonly found in the ground, also exists in the air in small
amounts due to fossil fuel combustion. Both tin and aluminum can be
recycled, which often comes from cans. Tinplating is now still widely used in
the EU but is declining in the United States. Inorganic tin can be released in
canned acidic foods, such as stewed fruits and cheeses. Resin-based coating
helps prevent this release of tin into foodstuffs. To avoid gastric irritation
from excessive tin ingestion, consumers should not store food in opened
tinplated cans, due to the fact that tinplate degrades when exposed to air.
 Conclusion
Both tinplate and aluminum can pose health risks when used in their pure
forms, but are perfectly safe for food packaging when processed with other
protective materials. Desjardin uses its own FDA and EU approved
transparent food varnish for tinplate and aluminum packaging. Additionally,
all food ingredients are tested to ensure they don't react with metal
packaging.

Disclaimer:
The postings in this blog section do not necessarily represent Desjardin's
positions, strategies or opinions.

References and Further Reading

 More articles on Chocolates , Biscuits and Confectionery packaging, by
Alex Cosper and Dawn M. Turner
 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), in
particular Chapter IV (Food) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
 Resolution CM/Res(2013)9 on metals and alloys used in food contact
materials and articles (2013), Council of Europe

Topics: Chocolates , Biscuits and Confectionery packaging

Alex Cosper  


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ALL ABOUT ALUMINIUM

ALUMINIUM APPLICATIONS
RU

ALUMINIUM IN
PACKAGING
Aluminium's ability to form any shape and its protective qualities
have made it the most versatile packaging material in the world.
In addition, a key benefit is that aluminium foil, aluminium cans
and other aluminium packaging materials can be fully recycled
and reused an infinite number of times.
What bliss it is the whiteness of the snow
The freezing cold and spraying rain at dawn
 The soothing brightness of the glitzy foil
In every window and on every corner

Bella Akhmadulina
poet and writer

Aluminium foil
Thin but strong, eye-catching because of its silvery glitter, aluminium foil is an everyday
presence in our lives. Its unique insulating properties make aluminium foil ideal packaging
for just about anything.

Aluminium foil is nothing more than aluminium alloy sheets that are between 0.004 and
0.24 mm thick. Aluminium foil is 8 times thinner than a banknote and yet it provides
perfect protection against light, liquid and bacteria. It is thanks to these properties the shelf
life for many type of groceries packaged in materials that include aluminium foil often
exceeds 12 months.

Foil is made on rolling mills in a process that involves pulling a sheet of aluminium between
two rotating rollers under pressure. The resulting extra thin sheets or [of?] foil is then cut
up into rolls using special cutters. The material used most often in the production of foil is
pure primary aluminium or 1xxx, 3xxx and 8xxxx series alloys that include iron, silicon,
manganese and occasionally copper if greater strength is needed. Heated aluminium is
rolled into sheets between 2 and 100 mm thick (hot rolling). These are then cold-rolled into
foil of the required thickness.

About a fourth of all foil produced in the world is used for technical purposes in
construction, transport and other industries. The bulk of all foil output goes into the
production of various types of domestic packaging and foil.

Packing made from aluminium foil is most widely used in the food industry. Many groceries
are easily affected by sunlight, which damages their appearance and worsens their taste.
Foil solves this problem in the best way possible which is why it is generally regarded as the
ideal core packaging material for dairy products, pastries, and beverages. For example, dry
milk in hermetically sealed packages made from laminated foil has a shelf life of 2 years.

Aluminium foil is non-toxic, so it does not damage the foods wrapped in it, but instead
protects them. Aluminium foil is used in food containers, bins, bottle caps, soft packages
for liquids or bulk food stuffs and many other types of containers.

Aluminium foil was first produced in Switzerland in 1910 following the development of continuous aluminium rolling technology

Foil protects foods against sunlight exposure which can cause them to go bad. Foil does
not melt from high temperature, nor does it lose its shape or impart any bad smell to the
food wrapped in it. This means foil can be used for grilling food or even for cooking on an
open fire.

For example, laminated foil with paper stuck on the inside is used for packaging tea and
sweets. This kind of foil is three times as waterproof as standard foil even in hot climates:
the paper absorbs moisture while the foil itself protects the contents against other
negative elements.

Foil with water and grease proof paper on one side is used in the packaging of butter,
cheese, ice cream and other dairy products.
In 1911, the Tobler factory in Switzerland which produced Toblerone chocolate, were the first to use aluminium foil to package their
products

Fruit juices and wines can be kept for extended periods of time at room temperature in
containers made from paper, aluminium foil and polyethylene film. The paper creates a
frame for the container, the aluminium foil provides protection and the polyethylene film
seals the container.

At home, people also prefer to store food in aluminium foil, especially cheese. Even in a
fridge cheese easily absorbs foreign odours which can alter its taste. Foil solves this
problem completely. It also worth noting that the best way to bake is to wrap the produce
in aluminium foil first. If the foil used in the process has enough strength it can significantly
protects the pans or trays. Strong enough foil can easily withstand the weight of the food
you are baking.

Nespresso
Coffee in aluminium capsules was first conceived by Eric Favre, a Nestle employee, in 1976. Unlike coffee
in traditional bags which lose their aroma after the bag is opened, single serving coffee capsules are only
opened immediately before use which means that this is not a problem.

In addition to its great shielding properties, another benefit of aluminium foil as a

packaging material has to do with the savings that can be achieved in transporting goods.
Thus when Kraft Foods replaced glass bottles with doy-packs from foil film, the amount of
beverages they could transport in a single vehicle doubled because doy-packs weigh only
6.1% of the weight of the beverages themselves.

Medicines are another important product that aluminium foil is used to package. Once
manufactured, medications must be protected from the elements over an extended period
of time, often for years as exposure can alter their properties. Aluminium foil is used in the
packaging of all types of medications such as pills, capsules, creams, lotions, liquid and
powder medications. Aluminium foil offers 100% protection against light, moisture, oxygen
and other gases as well as against microorganisms and bacteria.
Did you know that wine makers, who tend to be fairly conservative, are increasingly using
aluminium stoppers in their bottles. The British started using aluminium stoppers in their
whisky bottles as far back as 1926, but for a long time the wine industry didn't buy into the
idea. Later on, tests were carried out that found that in every 20th bottle the classical cork
damages the wine bouquet. By contrast, an aluminium top cuts off the oxygen flow and is
just as good at 'ageing' the wine as a traditional cork.

Tanqueray No. Ten gin stopper made from 8011 aluminium alloy

Aluminium cans
Aluminium cans are the most environmentally friendly and most recyclable type of
container in the world. Aluminium cans allow the beverages inside them to retain their
taste, while protecting them from the negative impact of the elements. In addition, the can
itself does not get rusty or lose its properties in any other way. More than half of the
aluminium in existence today will be recycled. In some countries the share of aluminium
cans in circulation is much greater than in others, for example in Germany 95% of all
beverages are contained in aluminium cans.

On average, it takes just 60 days to manufacture one aluminium can, fill it up with a
beverage, deliver it to a store, sell it to a customer, recycle it and make a new can from it.
This is a process which can be repeated ad infinitum.

An aluminium can is more expensive to produce than a glass bottle but its use in
production is 3.5% cheaper than using a glass bottle. For example, aluminium cans deliver
significant savings when beverages have to be transported over long distances because
they're lighter than bottles and they don't break. Modern 0.33 litre beverage cans weigh
about 25 grams and their walls are no more than 0.08 mm thick.
An aluminium container can be recycled an indefinite number of times without any
deterioration in the quality of the cans produced from recycled aluminium. Recycling
significantly reduces total energy consumption which reduces the amount of CO2 released
into the atmosphere. Making cans from recycled aluminium requires 95% less energy than
making them from primary aluminium.

180 bln
aluminium beverage cans are produced globally every year

Coca-Cola and Pepsi started to use aluminium cans in 1967

Beverages in aluminium cans retain their taste after production and offer 100% protection
against the elements such as oxygen, light, moisture, and other elements.

Beverages in aluminium cans made their debut in 1958 when two companies
simultaneously offered beer in aluminium cans. One, Kaiser Aluminium adapted a tin can
production process that existed at the time to aluminium. The other, Adolph Coors Co,
joined forces with Beatrice Foods Co to create a joint venture called Aluminium
International Inc. to make aluminium beverage cans in 1954. Both companies are disputing
to this day which one was the first to use aluminium beverage cans. Coca-Cola and Pepsi
began using aluminium cans in 1967.

Originally aluminium cans were fitted with special rings that you had to pull on to open.
The entire top of the can would peel back. The ring we have today that remains on the can
was only invented in 1975.

So how are aluminium cans produced? They're made from aluminium alloy that is 1%
magnesium, 1% manganese, 0.4% iron, 0.2% silicon and 0.15% copper.

First a press is used to punch pieces out of an aluminium sheet. The press also punches
discs about 14 cm in diameter from the sheet and bends its edges to make it into a kind of
cup. These edges are then pulled out under high pressure to make the body of the can. The
cans are then lowered into 60C hydrochloric acid and then placed into water. The acid
removes a thin layer of metal from the surface of the can that gives it its trademark glitter.
A thin layer of lacquer coating is then applied to the bottom of the can to make sure it can
easily slide across a conveyor belt and in vending machines.

Then a picture is painted on the can and lacquer a coating applied. The can is also
lacquered on the inside with a special water based safe lacquer.

Finally, the neck of the can, which is approximately 5 cm wide, is made.. At this stage the
aluminium is paper thin. The tops are made separately and welded to the neck after the
can has been filled with a beverage.

Different size aluminium cans are regarded as standard in

different countries
 330 ml

Russia, Europe and India

335 ml

United States
 375 ml

Australia

Modern manufacturers are constantly working to improve the design of the aluminium
can. For example, a new design with a double-layer wall has been developed: before
consumption the external layer is removed, which makes the can hygienic. There are cans
that can be closed after opening allowing for only a portion of the beverage to be drunk
with rest being stored for future use.

The Japanese are working on aluminium bottles with screw-on tops. This allows beverage
containers to look like regular bottles or other traditional containers. Depending on the
colour they're painted in, they can look like porcelain, clay or tinted glass. Smart cans have
already been developed whose walls contain an aluminium layer and a synthetic layer with
special chemicals in between. When you squeeze a can like that, it causes an endothermic
or exothermic reaction which results in the contents heating up or cooling down.

Global aluminium can production capacity exceeds 250 billion cans per year. 40% of this
capacity is in the US, Japan is in second place followed by Brazil and China.

More than half of aluminium cans around the world get recycled. To put that into context
every minute more than 113,000 cans are being recycled in the world. It has been
estimated that recycling a single aluminium container can save enough energy to keep a
100-Watt lamp on for almost four hours. As a result, the energy saved each year by
recycling aluminium cans is equivalent to 20 million barrels of oil or 12 billion kWh of
electricity.
 Photos from © Shutterstock and © Rusal are used in this article

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